Remington Core Lokt

[EmptyHull]

I am down to my last box and would like to duplicate this load as close as possible. I shoot a 30-06 and have used this in a 150 gr bullet. What powder and loads would be close to the factory loads? I know there are better bullets and plan on trying the Barnes TTSX in 150 gr later but for now would like to start with something I am familiar with. Thanks, Tim

[Mobuck]

Actually, I'm not sure you'll find a "better bullet" for deer sized game since this use was the basis of the original design. I've used this bullet to down many deer before I started reloading and I buy them by the hundreds to load.
Any of the powders in the 4895,4064.4320 burn rates will be good for the 3006/150 combo. This burn rate is populated by some of the most popular powders from every maker and hundreds of load options are available in every manual.

[EmptyHull]

I read that the 4895 was THE powder to use long ago. Very accurate. I think the 4064 was better with 165 gr bullets but my memory isn't what it used to be. I would just like to duplicate the factory loading for now. That bullet is excellent on the deer here in Louisiana and my shots are usually 150 yds or less. Though I do plan on some pipeline shooting which can go up to 300 yds and I feel that is where the TTSX will shine. Tim

[Horseman]

Get some 150 Core lokts or 150 Sierra Gamekings and use IMR4350. This is a great powder for 150 and 165gr in 30-06.

[hooligan1]

I second what the Horseman says, we load alot of 150 grn bullets for our 3006, using IMR4350 all the way dude... That Corelokt bullet is a good one as wev'e harvested alot of venison with them.

[Brian Pfleuger]

Had a little incident with a Core-Lokt from a 7mm-08 shattering on impact at close range.... single incident, likely meaningless. Still though, deer are not hard to kill and I'm a big fan of light and fast. I use the 110gr TTSX in 7-08, I believe they make a 130gr, or there abouts, in .308 caliber. Light for cartridge bullets often require different powders to maximize performance than do heavier bullets. IMR 3031 might be a consideration for such a thing.

[dunerjeff]

I just reloaded a bunch of '06's using 150gr Hornady BTspitz and 57gr IMR 4350.They shot extremely good,Hit, at 200yrds, in the same group as factory 150gr core-lokt "express loads".They beat out 4064 ,varget,and H4895 in accuracy(out of that rifle)

[Clifford L. Hughes]

Emptyhull:

When I started loading in 1960 I bought 150 grain Sierra bullets and I loaded them over top of IMR 4320. I loaded different powder charges and none of them would group out of my M-70 Winchester. When I switched to IMR 4350 my groups tightened to 1 1/4 inches. With the 165 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip I get one inch groups and occasionally I get 3/4 groups. It seems that the loading density with 4350 is optimum.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

[EmptyHull]

Thanks for all the advice. That should get me pointed in the right direction. Tim

[wncchester]

"Actually, I'm not sure you'll find a "better bullet" for deer sized game"

Roger that, Rem's bullets have always done all I've ever asked of them. I tried a few Noslers years ago, don't think the deer ever noticed any difference.

[TXGunNut]

I'm a fan of Hornady and occasionally Nosler Partitions but the Corelokt is my benchmark and in some cartridges my go-to bullet. They're often less expensive than most as well.
My .30-06 likes Hornady spire points in 165 and 180 over H4350, FWIW.

[Gunplummer]

I have to agree with the others, Cor-lokt is the bullet. Remington spent millions and years testing to get this bullet right. The only reason I do not reload with it is if they do not make the size I am reloading for. Over the years I have been given the latest and greatest bullets to try out and I usually had to fight to get accuracy out of them or I just was not impressed with the performance.

[GeauxTide]

Stay with the Corelokt or Hornady Spire Point. I've stayed with 52gr of 4064 in WW or Rem cases over CCI200 for 6 different rifles. Shoots under and inch all day and chronys over 2900 in 24" barrels, 2850 in 22".

[Mike / Tx]

EMptyhull,

I couldn't accurately count the numbers of '06 rounds I have loaded up in my short 35+ years of handloading, but I can tell you that I have found two powders that will do just what your looking for, and those would be either IMR or H-4350.

One or the other, with Hodgdon being only a tad slower in burn time, has for years been my go to accuracy powder for the '06 with either the 150 or 165gr bullet weights. My standard load uses the 150gr Nosler Solid Base, or the Hornady Spire Point, over 57.5grs of IMR-4350. I set up my seating die to set the Ballistic Tip to 3.250" base to tip, and leave it alone. It simply drives which ever bullet I choose into 1" or so groups at 200yds time and time again. The main reason I went with this load is, simply by happenstance a friend used it in his Remington. His cousin burrowed a few for a hunt one weekend and using a Win 70 they were just as accurate. Since then we have shot them in half a dozen different rifles of several makes and they repeat over and over those small groups.

Over the past couple of years I have started using up some CLs I purchased years ago in bulk, and this same load drives them well into hunting sized groups at 200yds. I cannot say they equal the Solid Base's in group size, but for bulk bullets they stay within 2" or so, and thats good enough for anything I am hunting with them.

Not sure what the deal is with the load, but I highly doubt I will ever look for anything different to try. It's hard to argue with the results I already have gotten.

[Stick_man]

The Core-lokt will handle deer quite easily out to 350-400+ yds if you do your part. I have been loading for close to 35 yrs now and haven't found anything that will outperform them in deer sized game. For elk, I use the Barnes TSX in 165 gr and it performs great. I consider the Barnes (any of them) to be pretty much overkill for anything smaller than elk unless you are shooting one of the smaller calibers.

I started loading the Barnes bullets a few years ago for elk because I happened to live less than 10 miles from Barnes. They are great bullets and perform wonderfully, but they are a little pricey. I have never experienced a failure from the Core-lokt bullets and would feel confident using them in the '06 even for most elk hunting situations.

[crowbeaner]

Remington still makes the 150 Core Lokt bullets available to us for reloading. Unfortunately, we have to use canister powders that they don't- they get theirs by the carload. Try these:
RP brass, WLR primer, 51.0 of IMR 4064 (max), 150 psp core lokt 2900 fps
WW brass, WLR primer, 48.0 of WW748, same bullet 2810 fps
WW brass, same primer, 54.0 of H414/W760, same bullet 2900 fps
FC brass, CCI 250, 52.5 of H380, same bullet. 2850 fps.
Since you have RP brass, you can use the data above, just back down 2 grains and work up. These all shoot into 1 inch or less in my old Remmy.
There are several other good powders out there; RL15 comes to mind for velocity. Either 4350 or 4064 powders, IMR 4320 is great stuff too.

[EmptyHull]

Thanks for all the info. I have been saving my hulls through the years and wanted to start reloading the 30-06. Seems for North American deer the old Core-lokt bullet is a good choice and will soon start reloading them also. Tim

[mrawesome22]

I'd go 4350 also. Great case fill with that bullet weight, even compressed.

4350 for sure.

[oneoldsap]

The Rem. Core-Lokt has been the "deadliest mushroom in the woods" for a long time . It will continue to be so till Deer start growing armor plating ! That being said , Remington has really jacked up their bullet prices in the last couple of years ! There used to be a monetary reason to shoot them as well , but that's gone now pretty much .

[Brian Pfleuger]

I don't doubt that the Core-Lokt works quite well... I do doubt that's it's any deadlier, more accurate or more reliable than any number of other choices. Particularly "on average", discounting what one particular gun might like.

If you like it, shoot it, even recommend it to others, but I'm confident it's not the Holy Grail.

[warnerwh]

Using Remington Core Lokt 180 grainers in my 30-06 my rifle will shoot sub 3/4" groups consistently. I use 56 grains of IMR 4350. These are bulk bullets. Knowing what they do on deer and the accuracy I see no reason to spend a penny more on any other bullets.

[federali]

Remington corelokt bullets don't have snob appeal and aggressive marketing stretegies surrounding them. For "ordinary" bullets, the Remingtons really perform provided you can hit what you're aiming at. I've used IMR 4320 and 4350 almost exclusively since 1960. 4350, due to its coarseness, doesn't meter as well and I often use individually weighed charges.

[black mamba]

I shoot bulk 165 grainers in my '06 over AA2520 for around 2650 fps. 3 shot groups under 1/2". Took two LARGE whitetail does last year, bang-flop into fetal position.

They just work.